Think Smart - Act Smart: Avoiding The Business Mistakes That Even Intelligent People Make

By J. Nightingale

Praise For Think Smart--Act Smart Avoiding the Business Mistakes That Even Intelligent People Make "Increased productivity and optimizing efficiencies...start with this book. Think Smart--Act Smart is a must-read for anyone concerned with the optimal operation of any organization...and all management personnel." --Travis AlexanderCEO, Alexander Worldwide Protection Services "This book should be mandatory reading for any of us in the leadership business. It exposes the fallacies of decision making that have become so endemic in organizations today. Jim's style of writing seamlessly translates sound theory into practical application--making it perfect for both the student and managerial practitioner. A welcomed addition to the decision-making literature." --Philip T. Anderson, PhDDirector, Organization Effectiveness, JohnsonDiversey, Inc. "Think Smart--Act Smart is a book that walks you through the 'how to' of thinking outside the box in your everyday approach to problem solving and how to avoid the old patterns buried in society's IQ-driven approach to problem solving. A very refreshing and mind-opening journey that shares a wonderful look into a number of startling truths about the way we think." --C. Brandy DouglasPresident, The Douglas Group, Inc. "Jim Nightingale provides a new and unique perspective on organizations today. The thesis of his books...is basic to working and managing in today's knowledge economy. Anyone who is responsible for making complex organizational decisions should benefit from this book." --Peter SorensenDirector, Organization Development PhD Program, Benedictine University, Illinois "We have all seen really smart, successful people do really dumb things. We have all asked the question, 'what was he/she thinking?' Jim Nightingale has taken an interesting, cerebral look at why this might be. His views are thought-provoking for those interested in getting the most out of their organization." --Spencer Clark IIIFormer Chief Learning Officer, Cadence Design Systems Why do smart people sometimes do such stupid things? In 1720 Isaac Newton lost a fortune in a stock market crash that he had personally predicted. How could this happen? Since the discoverer of gravity and the inventor of calculus can hardly be accused of stupidity, we must seek other reasons for this, and other, high-profile judgment errors by very smart people. Whether you are a CEO, a business manager, or simply a student of human behavior, Think Smart--Act Smart reveals why smart people make costly mistakes and provides you with a realistic plan to think smart in your life and on the job.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470171294
• ISBN13: 9780470171295
• Release Date: October 2007
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC!

Problem solving, mistakes, leadership, decision-making based on the right information...this book has it all. Well written, well thought-out and-believe it or not-all this with a great sense of humor. To this add all the interesting examples (one particularly bone-chilling). I learned quite a bit. Buy this book!

At this time in America...

...this book is an eye-opener. Although the examples from history, business, and science are enough to prove each of his points, the real worth of Nightingale's ideas is the way they illuminate and explain what is happening around us in early 2008 in the arenas of politics, finance, and religion. If he were to update this brand-new book in a year, he'd have plenty of current events to slot into the chapters on wishful, mythical, tribal, and royal thinking traps. I'm a former educator, and I know this book would be a great resource in that world. It is easy reading and filled with detailed and clear "case studies."

Superb

i read a good deal of "strategic planning" material, being a consultant of sorts. this one is a great read, not overtly intellectual and self-serving as many in this genre turn out to be. the case work selection is spot on and they illustrate what the author is describing here - the need to avoid decision making processes that are not based in logic and common sense.

Excellent!

Nightingale clearly and thoroughly outlines steps in order to make more unique decisions in order to actively increase productivity of a complex organization. Since receiving this book, not only have I personally benefitted, using it as my personal guide, but my customers have as well; I have passed it on to the c-level at all of my clients with great reception. Great read!

Buying this book was certainly NOT a mistake!

Nightingale depicts the intriguing mistakes made by important scientists, government leaders, and business managers, and yet finds a common thread of underlying psychological forces to weave them altogether. The anecdotes in each of his four categories--thinking, mythical thinking, tribal thinking, and royal thinking--bring you into the mind of his subjects so the reader can really understand how someone could have made the mistakes they did. Nightingale accurately depicts the thought processes and mindsets and puts them into a digestible framework for his readers to learn from and enjoy. Nightingale's book is witty, engaging, and an unusually enjoyable read on this subject. This is a very useful book for all of us who make decisions for a living.